Amphibian diversity and community-based ecotourism in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa
Abstract
Amphibian diversity is declining at an alarming rate globally. Monitoring of amphibian
communities is lax, yet vital to their conservation and understanding of their decline.
Conservation areas often harbour rich biodiversity along with high anuran species richness.
High human population density generally correlates positively with this high biodiversity, and
consequently, high human population numbers are associated with an increased threat to
biodiversity. This trend is evident at Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR), which falls within the
internationally recognised Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Biodiversity Hotspot. The reserve
is surrounded by rapidly growing, primarily rural settlements. The pressure on biodiversity
grows as the human population increases. There is also risk to human wellbeing since a threat
to biodiversity translates into a threat to the integrity of ecosystems on which people and
wildlife depend.
The conflict between conservation and development hampers attempts at effectively curbing
the ongoing loss of biodiversity. Community-based conservation initiatives including
Community-Based Ecotourism (CBE) present a means of satisfying both development and
conservation objectives. This study contributes to amphibian conservation through the
surveying and monitoring of amphibians and investigates various aspects of amphibian
diversity at NGR. Results obtained from this study are applied to a community-based
conservation initiative for NGR. Additionally, this study provides a supplementary benefit by
promoting information and communications technology (ICT) use in an area of low
development. Furthermore, the gap between people and biodiversity has been lessened
through development of an English-isiZulu handbook on the frogs of Zululand. The book
represents the first indigenous language guide to frogs in South Africa. This initiative serves
as a pilot for introducing CBE based on amphibian diversity. It also is aimed at broadening
understanding of amphibians across South Africa